Beaufort Hunt has experienced an amazing response to its appeals following the mysterious disappearance of a well known horse in its area.

Josh, the enormous 17.2 h.h. dark bay gelding, is the famed mount of Beaufort Hunt secretary, Nigel Maidment.

Aged 28 and with a distinctive roman nose, Josh had just been retired and was helping teach Guy Bostock to ride.

He went missing on May 20 from his field in Sherston, near Malmesbury, and despite many searches has not yet been found.

Today teams of local volunteers are combing the area in the hope that he has wandered off and got into the wrong field. The response on Facebook with more than 3,000 shares and the local papers has been extraordinary.

Josh is very much loved and the Maidment and the Bostock families desperately want him back.

Any information please to Wiltshire police who are investigating the disappearance as a suspected theft. If anyone has information they should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.